Tha B.U.M.P Supports “NAN” National Action Network

It was a pleasure sitting at the table on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The Sheraton in Times Square was loaded with action minded people from as far as Georgia to the tip of Massachusetts.

Sister’s of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., gather at The National Action Network’s (NAN) Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala.

The National Action Network’s (NAN) Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala is an annual gala that honors individuals who reflect the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It started in 1999 and has been a big deal ever since.

Here are some of the highlights of past events:

In 2011, President Barack Obama gave a speech during the gala. It was a big deal since it showed how important the event is in the fight for civil rights.

In 2012, they honored people like Richard Parsons, Denzel and Pauletta Washington, and Doug Morris. Bill Cosby gave a special speech, and John Legend performed.

In 2013, Bishop T.D. Jakes was awarded the Keeper of the Dream Award for being an exemplary leader. Other winners included Spike Lee, Wynton Marsalis, and Rosie Perez.

In 2023, Tyler Perry was awarded the President’s Award for helping to make the world a more just place.

They honored people like Whoopi Goldberg, Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Dr. Phillip Ozuah, and Caroline Wanga in 2024 for doing a great job of remembering Dr. King’s ideas. Anthony Anderson hosted.

Historically, boycotts have been used to make corporations change. Boycotting corporations that are not DEI supportive sends a very powerful message that corporations need to be held accountable for their social behavior, says Rev. Sharpton and NAN.

Rev. Al Sharpton is a civil rights icon, known for his fight for racial justice and social equality. He is the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), a large civil rights group which aims to address systemic issues through activism, policy change, and public advocacy.

The National Action Network (NAN) is a non-profit advocacy group promoting civil rights through advocacy, education, and protest. They’ve been leading the charge in promoting laws that provide diversity, equity, and inclusion in society as a whole.

Residents of Westchester County Malcolm Clark, Chief of Staff City of Mt. Vernon, Cynthia Turnquest-Jones, President of Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus Mt. Vernon Chapter, Gina Jackson, Town Council Woman Greenburgh, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mayor of Mt. Vernon, New York

In recent years, many companies have made commitments to being more inclusive, equitable, and diverse (DEI) in the workplace with a goal of making the workplace a more equitable place to work and to build more inclusive culture. Yet, a number of companies have started taking a step back or even reversing these commitments in response to political or economic pressures, which have called for accountability.

Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network recently issued a statement regarding how they will select companies to boycott this spring. They indicated they don’t trivialize boycotts and will focus on companies that are failing to meet their DEI commitments, particularly those that have rolled back or reversed policies aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion within their workforce.

If you want to learn more about the activities of Rev. Sharpton, go through his speeches or National Action Network’s website. Alternatively, you can go through recent news articles on DEI at big corporations to understand how common this is.